Match Report : 07/12/2013

Town came from behind the make it a third successive win thanks to second-half goals from David McGoldrick and Daryl Murphy.

Dean Gerken saved James Vaughan’s penalty before Danny Ward gave the visitors the lead at the break.

McGoldrick levelled things up for Town early in the second-half with a sweet finish before Murphy made it an even sweeter finish, heading home from close range on 90 minutes to take Blues to within two points of the Play-Offs.

Mick McCarthy made two changes to the side that beat Blackburn in midweek, Murphy and Ryan Tunnicliffe coming in for Carlos Edwards and Stephen Hunt, with Blues operating with three up front.

Luke Chambers fired the first strike just wide from 30 yards, the Town defender then in the action at the other end with his short backpass giving Vaughan a chance but Gerken was quick off his line to win the tackle with the Terriers’ striker and the chance was gone.

Christophe Berra headed over, then great work by McGoldrick on the edge of the box saw the striker spin away from his marker and test Alex Smithies with a powerful strike.

Murphy failed to get any real power with a 20 yarder after cutting inside from the right, the Republic of Ireland international then having a much better opening when he burst clear, before cutting inside Joel Lynch but Smithies was out at his feet to smother the danger.

Oliver Norwood sent a drive just over the bar, Ward went close with a volley before Huddersfield were awarded a penalty on 24 minutes after Berra was adjudged to have pushed Vaughan. Gerken was up to the task though and guessed right to save from Vaughan, who saw his spot-kick saved by Scott Loach at the same end when the two clubs met last season.

The Terries got the breakthrough 10 minutes later though, Adam Hammill got around the back of the Town defence and his cross was diverted into Ward, who buried a left foot shot into the bottom corner.

Blues responded with Cole Skuse fizzing a shot over, but Huddersfield continued to carry a threat and Hammill smashed a 30 yarder against the underside of the bar.

Norwood then almost played Vaughan in before McGoldrick went the closest to finding the net for Town in the first 45 minutes, beating two men on the edge of the box but he dragged his shot inches wide.

McGoldrick didn’t have to wait long for another invitation though, Skuse found him on the edge of the box on 50 minutes and he beat Smithies with a superb finish.

Town were inches away from a second soon after, Murphy crossed but Luke Hyam and Frank Nouble couldn’t get on the end of it with the goal gaping.

Chambers exploded a right foot effort just over as Blues stepped up a gear, Huddersfield responding with Ward firing a free-kick through the wall that was well held by Gerken.

Ward was then replaced by Sean Scannell just before the hour, Berra doing well to head clear as Vaughan challenged.

Scannell almost made an instant impact, his shot deflected off Berra and diverted behind by Gerken.

Jay Tabb replaced Skuse in Town’s first change, Gerken then doing well again to keep out another piledriver from Norwood.

Tunnicliffe blocked Norwood’s strike on the edge of the box as Huddersfield threatened a second before Blues gave a debut to Jordan Graham, on for the last 12 minutes with Nouble making way.

The clock was approaching 90 minutes when Town got the decisive goal, Aaron Cresswell’s free-kick was dealt with by the Terriers’ defence and Murphy headed in from five yards to round off a great week for Blues.